NEISS data on bicyclist injuries

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) is a national probability sample of hospitals in the US. Patient information is collected from each NEISS hospital for every emergency visit involving an injury associated with consumer products (which includes bicycles). From this sample, the total number of product-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms nationwide can be estimated.

The following data on bicyclist injuries has been extracted from the NEISS.

5/15-year averages

Deaths due primarily to head injury

The proportion of bicyclist fatalities due primarily to head injury has remained relatively constant since 1991.

1991 - 1995

48%

1996 - 2000

42.5%

2001 - 2005

45%

1991 - 2005

45%

Year-on-year data

Following is the raw sample count data for all bike injuries from the NEISS for 1991-2005, along with the same data for only juvenile cyclists under the age of 16.

KEY

%Head = percentage of total injuries due to head injury%Hosp = percentage of total injuries resulting in hospitalizationHH = head injuries resulting in hospitalization HH/Head = percentage of head injuries resulting in hospitalizationHH/Hosp = percentage of hospitalizations due to head injuryFatal-Head = fatalities due primarily to head injury

Note that while sample sizes have grown over time in each category, fatalities remain under-represented, and may not be as representative of all bicycle-related fatalities due to the relatively small numbers involved: